Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: hotel

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". -- The increasing population of Cologne during the 19th century required an improved drinking water supply. In 1864 London engineer John Moore was awarded the contract to design a water tower, which could supply 170,000 residents. However, the actual construction started in 1868 was smaller. The cylindrical water tower is 35.6 meters high with a diameter of 34 meters. It could held 3,650 m³ of water and was, completed in 1872, the largest water tower in Europe. The water tower was used until about 1930. It was damaged during the WWII and for years the former water tower remained a ruin. In 1985 investors took over, planning a for a cost of 20 million DM the conversion of the water tower into a luxury hotel. The unusual hotel was completed in 1990.

In Kientzheim, a small. quaint village on the "Route de Vins", just west of Kaysersberg, some buildings of the the former convent of the Poor Clare Sisters are now a very agreeable hotel. www.hotel-abbaye-alspach.com/en/

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days (!!) - in a town with a population of below 2000. Volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. But walking through the town, the marks of the rural exodus are clearly visible. Le Puy en Velay with its large supermarkets is not even 20kms north, so the many shops (and this Hotel-bar) went out of business.

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille is known by musicians as this is the place of the "Festival du Monastier" (aka "Festival de Cuivres"), a great meeting centered around "brass". 40 concerts - in 7 days - in a town with a population of below 2000!! Many volunteers and a supporting community of music lovers make this festival possible. But walking through the town, the marks of the rural exodus are clearly visible. Le Puy en Velay with its large supermarkets is not even 20kms north, so many shops (and this HOTEL) went out of business.

Posh hotels can be a treat, but mostly they are not really surprising. So from time to time, I like to stay in hotels, motels, hostels, B&Bs that are a bit off the beaten track. So for a couple of nights I had booked this wonderful, very basic room (with a shiny lino-floor) in "Maria Hilf", a convent of the pious "Schwestern vom Goettlichen Erloeser" ("Sœurs du Très Saint Sauveur", "Sisters of the Most Divine Saviour / Niederbronn"). Buehl is a perfect place to travel the northern part of the Black Forest. If you visit the area - I recommend the convent, though the rooms have no TV, you´ll have to pay extra for WiFi - and creditcards are not accepted. There are even some "deluxe" rooms with private facilities. www.schwestern-vom-goettlichen-erloeser.de/Kloster_Maria_... www.tge-online.org/tagb Please note that two religious orders exist under the name "Sisters of the Divine Savior". This one was founded in nearby Niederbronnn (Alsace) in 1849 by Elisabeth Eppinger.

A very comfortable and agreeable hotel in Cognac! Thank you very much for the invitation! www.hotel-domaine-du-breuil.com/gb/